Labour boss faces deportation in Zimbabwe

February 26, 2019
| Report Focus News

Harare- The General Secretary of the African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), Kwasi Adu Amankwa has been detained by the Zimbabwe Government

In a statement by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), Amankwa was arrested at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport.

“The Government of Zimbabwe has detained the ITUC-Africa Secretary General Kwasi Adu Amankwa who was in the country for an international solidarity meeting with the ZCTU. Cde Amankwa was also scheduled to meet the Ministry of Labour, the International Labour Organisation and the Employers Confederation of Zimbabwe for an appreciation of the trade union and country obtaining situations.

“The ITUC-Africa SG entered the country early this morning and checked into a local hotel, was tracked down by government officials and taken back to the airport where he is currently held” ZCTU said

Obey Shava who is representing Kwasi said he was denied access to his client and would approach the high court if they refuse him access.

“I went to the airport to see my client Mr Kwasi initially I was allowed access to my client just for three minutes before I was advised that some senior officials at the immigration department wanted to see me I went there and I was told that I was not allowed to have an interview with my client at the moment.

“I have been denied access to my client what I am in the process of doing right now is to go back to the immigration head office in town and complain that I have been denied access to my client which is his constitutional right to legal services and I will see how they will treat the matter” said Shava

He added “If they insist that I should not have access to my client I am left with no choice but to approach the courts on urgent basis. At the moment my client does not know why he has been picked up by the immigration officials he came in the country in the normal procedures and one of the immigration officials confirmed that all the procedures were followed and I am clueless on why they have picked him up”